Photo by ISIPhotos.com
The cream has risen to the top of the MLS power rankings.
The Houston Dynamo and Columbus Crew have been playing some of the best soccer in the league and have made major moves up the standings in recent weeks. Both teams showed how far they have come by both defeating former top dog Chivas USA, which lost the No. 1 spot in the SBI MLS Power Rankings for the first time in more than a month.
The Los Angeles Galaxy's surprising climb up the rankings came to a halt after a home loss to Real Salt Lake, one of the league's worst road teams. Seattle also saw a streak end as the Sounders finally stopped the bleeding and posted their first win in six matches (Though they still haven't beaten anybody but San Jose in the past 11 matches).
One streak that continued was the New York Red Bulls' losing streak, which reached five games as the worst team in the league reached the 10-loss mark with the season after just 15 games. The pressure continues to mount on head coach Juan Carlos Osorio, who just might be regretting not taking one of the handful of job offers from Latin America that came his way in the spring.
Here is how this week's SBI MLS Power Rankings shook out (schedules and outlooks will post later today):
SBI MLS Power Rankings (Week 13)
1 (2). Houston Dynamo (8-2-3)
2 (Last week- 1). Chivas USA (8-4-3)
3 (6). Columbus Crew (4-2-7)
4 (5). D.C. United (5-2-7)
5 (7). Seattle Sounders (5-3-5)
6 (3). Chicago Fire (5-3-6)
7 (4). Colorado Rapids (4-2-5)
8 (10). Kansas City Wizards (5-5-4)
9 (8). New England Revolution (4-4-4)
10 (11). Toronto FC (5-5-4)
11 (12). Real Salt Lake (4-6-3)
12 (9). Los Angeles Galaxy (2-2-9)
13 (13). FC Dallas (2-7-4)
14 (14). San Jose Earthquakes (2-8-3)
15 (15). New York Red Bulls (2-10-3)
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Here are some thoughts on this week's rankings:
Yes, of course, as soon as I finally buy into the Los Angeles Galaxy they go and lose. The unbeaten run wasn't going to go on forever, but losing at home to Real Salt Lake is pretty disappointing.
My lobbying of Geoff Cameron for MLS defender of the year is in full swing. Wilman Conde has been hurt, Chad Marshall has been inconsistent and Jimmy Conrad has struggled along with a surprisingly shaky KC defense. Cameron has been the best defender on the league's best defense. His combination of size, speed and skill is impressive and I can't see how he doesn't get a Gold Cup call-up.
How good has Richard Mulrooney been since sliding into central midfield for Houston? He clearly hasn't lost much from his days as an All-Star midfielder before moving to right back, and he has made the absence of Ricardo Clark a non-factor. How many teams can do that?
How bad was the Cam Weaver trade for San Jose? Okay, so Weaver wasn't doing much for the Earthquakes, but giving away a bonafide starting striker for a reserve striker and a draft pick, and having that starting striker blow up in his first week, makes you wonder if A) San Jose didn't cut bait too soon on Weaver and B) if San Jose didn't get robbed by the Dynamo. They wouldn't be the first team to be fleeced by Dom Kinnear in a trade.
Give Guillermo Barros Schelotto the MVP trophy now. It's only halfway through the season but no player is more consistently effective and more important to his team than Schelotto. Other players have enjoyed good seasons, such as Brian McBride and Shalrie Joseph, but Schelotto is on another level.
That's all for now. I'll share more thoughts later today. For now, feel free to share your thoughts on the current rankings in the comments section below.
Its time for Chivas to get rid of the senior citizens. Play young blood
@ Leonardo
Jhon Kennedy Hurtado was beaten by Alejandor Moreno of the Crew when they played in Seattle a few weeks back. Noonan got a through ball off a restart and crossed it past a diving Hurtado for a Moreno goal.
In regards to the Cam Weaver trade: the guy didn’t get any service in SJ. They have wingers that are the opposite foot of the side that they play on. So both Huckerby and Alvarez cut in to shoot or play a square/through ball instead of crossing. Weaver wasn’t in Europe for no reason. The guy was USL Rookie of the Year when he was with the USL Sounders too.
i like the photo of Montero silencing the crowd after his goal… wait… was this last week’s HOME game?
oh boy… (and i’m a seattle fan)
that said, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado is still the best defender in my opinion. I haven’t seen anyone score on him – it’s always the other guys (Riley, Marshall) who mess up. why AC Milan was looking at him earlier
Weaver scores because Houston is a great team. He’s no better than he was with San Jose, and he’s not that great of a forward. He’s decent and good enough to score in MLS, but a guy like Kamara is probably better considering Weaver has the touch and speed of a brick wall.
You have to look at the other players on Houston.
They have great options in the midfield, both in the center and the wings. It means the strikers dont have to create things on their own. They dont have to be super fast, great on the ball, or able to shoot from outside.
They are asked to defend, battle in the box and score from 6 yards out. Weaver didnt just miraculously become a great soccer player, he just ended up in a situation where he is only asked to do the things he is good at.
Unlike some of the coaches in the league, Dom figures this stuff out. He doesnt go after players that dont fit his team’s mold. When everyone plays very defined roles, you dont need guys who can do it all.
Posted by: srfinger | June 15, 2009 at 01:45 PM
WOW, what you say makes a lot of sence!
Yeah, OK, Jason. They’ve beaten KC and tied KC already this season, but should rank behind them, even though they’re level on points in the standing.
Nonsense.
Yes, TFC should be behind KC, NE, and most especially Colorado.
Colorado have three games in hand on them, and have only played four games at home. NE have two in hand, and have only played 5 at home.
TFC have had NINE home games so far (hell, Colorado has only played 11 games), and only 5 on the road. When that balances out, they’ll be at their true level.
1. Houston
2. Chivas (I want to move them lower)
3. Columbus (champs getting healthy)
4. DC (Great depth, I’m a believer)
5. Chicago
6. Colorado
7. Seattle
8. New England
9. KC
10. TFC
11. RSL
12. LA
13. FCD
14. SJ
15. NY
Oh, and a trade. Noonan to the Rapids for a draft pick and allocation cash.
Toronto behind New England and Colorado and KC? Ives, my man, whatever you’re smoking today, I want some.
Ouch – Colorado drops three spots for having not played? =) It’s OK – it’s very hard to separate #3 thru #7 right now.
If the season ended today, Schelotto is back to back MVP. No chance at a logical debate. I hope he keeps his form. I do wish he was able to assist Moreno more. There is one thing I don’t understand. I have been at every home Crew game this year (fyi, not calling a PK on the slide tackle from behind was BS) and I have noticed that when Rogers or Schelotto get pushed down from behind the ref calls a foul. When Moreno gets pushed down from behind its a clean play. I truly don’t understand the difference.
Why DOES the FIFA rule take 60 days to go into effect? Does FIFA just like making people wait?
Cameron did get called up to the National Team camp in January. He had to drop out b/c of injury though.
You have to look at the other players on Houston.
They have great options in the midfield, both in the center and the wings. It means the strikers dont have to create things on their own. They dont have to be super fast, great on the ball, or able to shoot from outside.
They are asked to defend, battle in the box and score from 6 yards out. Weaver didnt just miraculously become a great soccer player, he just ended up in a situation where he is only asked to do the things he is good at.
Unlike some of the coaches in the league, Dom figures this stuff out. He doesnt go after players that dont fit his team’s mold. When everyone plays very defined roles, you dont need guys who can do it all.
Hey man (lol),
Never saw Maradona or Preki shoot with their right foot either.
GBS has been fantastic. He has already exceeded any expectations by his performance last year, and I think he is well on his way to MLS legend status.
I think SJ got robbed by Houston because Cam Weaver has been incredibly impressive in his first two games (two goals and an assist plus good all around play). But I think Dom has a talent at taking sub-par strikers and turning them into good ones. Look at our last couple strikers: Nate Jaqua, was miserable at LA before coming to Houston and then after went to Europe and got a US call up; Joseph Ngwenya, couldn’t score to save his life at Columbus, now he’s playing in Europe; Kei Kamara, wasn’t very good at SJ and now, in my opinion, is one of the most dangerous strikers in the league. I think that Dom is the best coach in the league hands down. If Geoff Cameron doesn’t get a US call up very soon I will be furious, best defender in the league.
100% agree on Cameron. That guy is a player!!!!
Strong defender and has a technical ability not usually seen from American players at that position. Definitelya European future for him.
Get him in the pool!!!!!
(and I’m not a Houston fan)
Was at the Crew game yesterday and they showed alot of heart coming out and playin glike they did in the second half given the was the referee played yesterday. 2 stone cold penalties in the second half denied, but Schelletto did it the hard way anyways!!! Go Crew!!!!
Can’t wait for the Wednesday night match up
DC/SEA.
Suprised that you have the Revs at spot #9, after that poor performance in Kansas City. Would have figured they would drop down. I guess, that is due more to how bad teams 10-15 are.
The dude doesn’t have a right foot, I’ve literally never seen him shoot with it.
Yeah Ives, thanks for cursing the Galaxy with your “RedBull-ness”.
Mentz, let me answer that for ya. The new rule won’t happen for several more months, so there will be ZERO chance for Jones to play in the Gold Cup.
I have MLS Direct Kick package and watched a ton of games this weekend.
Biggest thing I learned? Arturo Alvarez is by far the best left sided midfielder in the USA right now!!
And he’s in jeapordy of being capped by El Salvador.
Hey Ives,
Any chance we might get to see Jermaine Jones get a cap this summer in the Gold Cup Tourney as well? Since it was obviously too late for him to get on with the Confederations Cup team, why not cap him ASAP (aka the America B-Team tournament)? What do you think?!